Direction indicator



Jan. 2, 1923. 1,440,804

E. B. WAGNER. Dlnscnon INmCATQR. FILED Am; 6, 1919. 2 sHEEfs-sHEET 2 f 31 27 ,l 6 r/ f i 6 (j m92 y /f [N v mN'roR Ezra/5,]4Qgner Arrowumys Patented Jan. 2, 1923.

EZRA BURR WAGNER, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

DIRECTION INDICATOR.

Application filed August 6, 1919. Serial No. 315,647.

T0 al? who/N, 'it my concern Be it known that I. 4Exim B. Wausau. a citizen of the United States, residing at San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Direction Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a direction indicator for automobiles and other vehicles and )articular-ly to a direction indicator whici is equally serviceable, whether it be day or night.` .z-Y

he p'resentdnvention is intended for `the purpose. odisplaying .a'signal whichnfisibly indicates the movement of a vehicle such. a .s.an automobile .or the like, said siginal. being displayed onthe'side of the. vehicle where it is visible both from the front and rear and being-lof a character which is adaptable both for day and night-service.

One of thevobjects of thepresent invention is to provide a reliable manually operated mechanical device which may be used to display thedesiredsignal and which will hold the signal continuously before the attention of nearby 4drivers so there can be no excuse for theirnot seeing norreading the Warning.

Another object-of the invention is to4 provide a direction indicator which issimple and substantialin construction, cheap to manufacture, easy to install and operate. and which is equally visible, both from the front and rear.

Another object of the invention is to provide a direction indicator which employs an arm and in conjunction therewith manually actuated means for swingingthe arm to assume different predetermined positions and for locking the arm when any predetermined desired position is reached. -Further, to mount a series of colored signals lights on the arm, through any one of which an electric circuit may bc closed to produce a visible sifrnal or indicator when driving at night. Qurther objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed. having refcrefcc to the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. l is a partial View of a wind shield showing the application of thc invention.

Fig. Q is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a detail Sectional view of the si 'nul light switch.

ig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the signal lighting circuit.

F ig. 5 is an enlarged plan view, partially in section, of the mechanism whereby vthe direction indicator is operated.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation partially in section, taken on line 6-6 of;` Fig. 5.

.E1g 7is a vertical cross'sectionon line 7-,7, Fig. 5,. Referringto 4the-drawings in detail, and particularlyC Fig. f1, A and-Bindicate ythe sectionsbf la standardform of Wind shield Such asemployed by automobiles'and other vehicles; and .2, the frame in which-the shield sections are supported. Suitably se# cured, as by a clamp 3, to the frame 2, is a tubular bracket'rod 4, upon which 4is Supportedl a direction indicator land a manually operated mechanism for actuating.V the same. The direction indicator proper consists of a head member 5 supported by means of an arm 6 which is turna-bly mounted as at 7 .ina socket bearing 8 secured on the outer end ofi the brackettube 4. The arm 6 isjsecured in a socket member 9, on the inner end of which is secured apinion gear l0. The -piion gear encloses the socket member 8 and is turnably mounted thereon, the sockets 8 and 9 being held in assembly and in alignment with each other by means of a shaftll which is surrounded by a spring l2. One end `of the spring is secured to a projection 13 of the socket 8 while the opposite end of the spring is secured to a projection 14 of the turnable socket 9. The function .of the spring 12 will hereinafter be described. The head member 5 secured on the outer end of the arm G has mounted interior thereof a series of colored lights such as shown at 1'5, 16 and 17, these lights being visible at all times, both from the front and rear as both sides of the head are closed b'y glass covered window openings 1.8. The'lights are employed forv night driving only and the manner of establishing-circuits through the respective lightsis generally indicated in Fig. 4. From this view it will be seen that a Wire .19 is connected with one terminal of each lamp and that separate wires 20, 21 and 22 are connected with the opposite terminals of the lamps, the Wires 20, 2l and 22 being all connected with terminal members 2U, and 22 secured in an insulating block which is supported by the tubular bracket arm 4. Pivotall)r mounted on a bracket 24 secured to the tube is an operatinfa lever 25. Mounted on one Vside of this llever is a spring actuated pavl 26 which is adapted to engage a notched segment 2T. and pivotally mounted on the opposite side of the operating lever is a lever 2T, on the outer end o f which is carried a contact member 28. This contact member is mounted in alignment with the terminals 20, 2lil and 22 and as the contact member swings on the are of a circle when the main operating lever 25 is operated, it can readily be seen that the terminals 20, 21 and 22 are also arranged in an arcular path on the insulating block 23.

The contact member 28 may be raised into or out of engagement with any of the terminals specified and as the contact 28 is connected through a wire' 29 with one terminal of a battery'BO and wire 19 with the opposite terminal, it can readily be seen that a circuit ma be established through any one of the signal lights 15, 16 or 17, as may be desired. The main operating lever 25 serves other purposes besides that of moving the contact member into or out of alignment with the terminal members 20, 21l and 22. By reerring to Figs. 1 and 6, it will be seen that a gear 30 is secured tothe terminal end of the operating lever 25 and that this gear in termeshes with the pinion 10. Movement of the operating lever will therefore be transmitted through the gears 10 and 30 to swing the arm 6 to assume any one of the dotted line positions shown in Fig. 1 as the pinion 10 is turnably mounted on the stationary socket member 13.

In displaying a signal it is desirable to permit the arm 6 to remain for a certain time period in the position to which it has been swung. I have therefore provided the springr actuated latch 26 and the segmental rack bar 27. The notches shown at 3] which are formed in the rack bar, are so positioned that the arm 6 may be locked when the arm assumes the vertical position shown in Fig. 1 or any of the dotted line positions shown in the saine figure and it may similarly be released and returned to normal position by merely depressing the spring actuated latch 26 and returning the arm by means of the lever 25.

By referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, it Will be seen that all the Wires employed in con nection with the signal lights 15, 16 and 17 are carried within the hollow arm 6 and the tubular bracket arm 4. Similarly, that a dust and Water-proof connection' is formed between the swinging arm and the tubular bracket arm by means of the stationary socket member 8 and the pinion gear 10.

Slior-itircuiting oi the ronnertions is hrrw by, to a large extent. avoided, and reliahlr operation can he depended upoi..

ln actual practice it should r obvious thai the direction indicator as a whole may he mounted on one side ol :he wind-shield or the other which it ma) lfe conveniently: reached by the driver or the operator of the vehicle. Similarly/.that :leasing nniybe provided for enclosing the operating mechanism comprising the Contact members and gears 10 and 3U. Such housiircr is eiiiploved in a.:- tual practice but has been eliminated ir: lw present instance to permit better disclosure of the mechanism employed. The gears are of the mutilated type by preference as thc range of movement is so small that complete gears are not required. ln actual operation. when operating in the daytime. it is onrious that a switch such as indicated at 35. may be employed to break the circuit through the lights 15, 16 and 17. thus rendering opera tion of the contact 2S and the lever by which it is operated. ineffective. The traffic lan-s in the State of California demand that the driver of n vehicle shall extend and hohl his arm at an upward angle of 150 when he de sires to turn to the right; in a horizontal position. When turning to the lett and on a. downward angle of 45o if he desires to slow down or stop.

l have therefore provided four notches on the segment 27, one to secure the arm 6 in the vertical` inoperative position shown and the other notches to secure the arm in the dotted line positions shown. Therefore, .if it is desired to turn to the right, it is only necessary to move the main operating lever 25 to the first notch in the segment as this ivill cause the arm 6 and the head member to assume the dotted line position shown at 36, lf it is desired to turn to the left7 the operating lever is moved to thc .second notch, causing the direction indicator to aume the. position shoivn at 37. lf it is desired to slouv down or stop7 the operatingr lever is moved to the last notch. causing; the direction indicator to assume the position shown at 3S. The spring l2 previously referred to in the specification serves a useful function during the movement ot the arm 6 as it is gradually placed under tension as the arm is swunglr in a downward direction. ln other words. it serves the function of a counter- Weight and will therefore. to a large extent. relieve the operator of anyv elfort When mov in;r the lever 25 :is the weight of the head 5 and arm (l is pzirtiallir counter-balanced by placingr the springr under tension and similarl)Y helps to raise the head 5 and arm 6 when movement tulres place in the opposite direction.

llvhcn driving af night. it is onlyr necessary to close the switch fifi. lf it desired to slow down or stop, it is obvious that it is lll) necessar)v to swing the arm 6 to the position indicated at 38. The Contact 28 Would,ldur ing this movement, engage the several terminal members 20, 2l and 22 and will therefore successively close circuits through the respective lights 15, 16 and 17. This would obviouslycause confusion andgit-,is for this reason that l have provided the lever 27a. This lever is depressed when theinain operating lever is grasped. The contacti28 is therefore pulled awa-y from the terminal members and will not engage the same when passing over the terminals; in fact, it will not engage any terminal member untillthe operating lever 25 and lever 27 are released; Any confusion is therefore avoided asno light will be displayed until the desired" p0,- sition is obtained and the levers release d In actual practice it is obvious that it is necessary to grasp all three levers as it; is impossible to move the mainoperating lever before the spring actuated; latchl is lreleased.

From the foregoing description it should be obvious that'a practical, reliable and manually actuated direction indicator has been provided which is equally visible, whether viewed from the front or rear of the car. Similarly, that it is equally service-able, whether employed during day or night driving and that reliance can be placed upon the device as the mechanism employed consists of very few parts and is simple and substantial and not liable to get out of order.

lVhile a more or less specific construction is here employed, I wish it understood that changes in design and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims; similarly, that the materials and Hnish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate and varyingr ronditions may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl 1. ln a device of the character described the combination with the indicating arm and the signal lights carried thereby of an operating lever, means for transmitting movement from the operating lever to turn the arm to assume any one of a predetermined number of positions. a plurality of terminal members. wires connecting said terminal members with the lights. a contact member carried by the lever adapted to engage the terminal members. and means on the operatingr lever for moving the Contact member into or out of engagement with any one of the terminal members.

2. A direction indicator comprising asupport. an arm turnably mounted on the support. manually operated means for turning the arm to assume any one, of a predetermined number of positions, means for se curing the arm against movement when in any one of theillfredetermined positions, a plurality of colored signal lights carried by the ar ma switch member, a plurality of ter minal members thereon. one.connected with each light, a single Contact member carried by the means for turningthe.armfadapted to ,establishgacircuit through any one of the terminal ,members, andmeans for .holding the s ingle. ,c0ntact .member outof engagementwith-1tl1e fterminalimembers when moving over the saine..

3. A- directiqn indicatorveomprising asupport, ari-.arm tiirnably .mounted on the sup- Part, aiheadfmembeaon the-enter end 0f; th arm, yaP111ralilyfiot'signal iishtsain themed member @pinion sean-Secured .0n the inner wicket` tha-annee` second; geen .withg which the Pinion gearftnbermsahesf. apivotal muntngifer sedtsecandnemed; gear .0n the. aumentan. Operating levertsecured. to theflastimemed'. similari i1$i1lating b10 ik mounted on the supportfa plurality of trminal members secured in said block, wires connecting said terminal members with the lights, a constant member carried by the lever adapted to engage the terminal members, means on the operating lever for moving the contact member into or out of engagement with the contacts. a spring actuated latch on the operating lever, a segmen tal-shaped rock bar with which said latch is ada ted to engage, and notches formed in said rack bar for the reception of the latch, said notches and latch adapted to lock the operating lever and the arm in predetermined positions.

4. A direction indicator for automobiles and other vehicles comprising a tubular bracket member. a stationary socket secured on the outer end of said tube, a gear turnably mounted on said socket member, an arm secured to said gear, a shaft extending through the arm, gear and stationary socket member, a spring surrounding the shaft, secured at one end to the arm and at the opposite end to the stationary socket member. a head member on the outer end of the arm. a gear turnably mounted on the tubular bracket member, intermeshing with the pinion. an operating lever secured to the gear` a spring actuated latch on the operating lever` and a notched rack bar with which thc latch is adapted to engage.

5. A direction indicator for automobiles and other vehicles comprising a tubular bracket member, a stationary socket secured on the outer end of said tube, a gear turn ably mounted on said socket member, an arm secured to said gear, a shaft extending through the arm, gear and stationary socket member, a spring surrounding the shaft, secured at one end to the arm and at the op posite end to the stationary socket member, a head member on the outer end of the arm,

:i lgear tnrllabl)Y mounted on the tubular bracket member, intermeshing with the pinion, an operating lever Secured to the gear. a spring actuated latch on the operating levera notched rack bar with which the latch is adapted to engage, a plurality of colored lights mounted in the head member, a terminal block secured on the tubular bracket, terminals secured in said block and insulated therefrom, wires connectingr said ter' minal 4members with the respective lights, said wires extending through the tubulaibracket member and stationary socket, the gear and the arm, a contact member carried by the operating lever and engageable with the terminal members, and a lever pivotally mounted on the operating lever, adapted to move the contact into or out of engagement with the terminal members.

6. A direction indicator comprising a support, an arm turnably mounted on the support, a pinion gear secured on thenner end of the arm, a second gear meshing with the pinion and turnably mounted on the support, an operating lever attached to the last named gear to turn the gears and the arm secured tothe inion gear, a pluralitv of colored Signal lig ts carried by the arm` a pluralit)7 ofstationary terminal members connected byjwires with the lights, a single 3U Contact member carried by the last named gear and adapted to engage the terminal members to form a circuit therethrough, and means for holding the single contact mem ber out of engagement with the terminal members until the desired terminal member is reached` In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' i -EZRA BURR WAGNER. Witnesses l D. vLAITON,

` Es'raLLA` Bradman. 

